Jiu Jitsu Vs. Other Martial Arts: Differences Explained

As you might already know, participation in the martial arts can be an immensely rewarding experience for both kids and adults. That’s a sentiment shared by the 3.58 million people over the age of six who participated in martial arts across the U.S. in 2016. But the category of martial arts actually includes numerous disciplines, all with different goals, techniques, and histories. In today’s post, we’ll be focusing on one of those disciplines — Brazilian Jiu Jitsu — and explaining how it differs from several other types of martial arts.

How Does Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Differ From Other Martial Arts?

Technique: If you’re familiar with karate, you might remember that this martial art form is done mainly from the standing position and incorporates striking and kicking fairly often. Taekwondo also uses kicks and defensive blocking. Brazilian jiu jitsu is a little different from other disciplines in that it focuses on grappling from the ground. While striking is still one of the many moves that are involved, the way they are performed differs. In BJJ, it doesn’t necessarily matter how large or strong you are; instead of focusing on strength alone, this discipline focuses on both technique and strategy, allowing anyone who practices it to be able to emerge triumphant.

Origins: Karate was developed using Chinese martial arts techniques and was introduced to Japan during the 1900s. Jiu jitsu’s origins can be traced back to Japan as well, but the techniques used in modern Brazilian jiu jitsu were adapted in (surprise!) Brazil during the 20th century. Taekwondo originally developed in Korea, while MMA was influenced by the ancient Greeks and by BJJ, among other disciplines.

Practical Applications: Muay thai, thai chi, karate, judo, and other types of martial arts all have their advantages. They can teach participants how to strategize, how to become more physically fit, how to problem-solve, and how to have fun. Martial arts were typically developed in the name of self-defense, though some have evolved for entertainment purposes (MMA) or exercise. BJJ is one of the most practical forms of self-defense to learn, particularly for children. That’s because BJJ focuses on ways to fight one’s opponent with real life situations factored in. Whether it’s learning how to best an opponent who clearly outweighs you or perfecting techniques to ensure they’re totally effective, this is one martial art form on which you can actually rely if an attack should occur in the real world.

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